Wind-shield fastener.



Yc. T. CUTLIP. WIND SHIELD FASTENEH. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1915.

1,176,205. Panted Mar. 21,1916.

Cyovrle@ GUHIP,

EES PATIN" CHARLES T. CUTIJIP, OF DETROIT, 'MICHIGAN'.

I WIND-SHIELD FASTENER.

Application filed. March 4, 1915. SeraTNo. 12,080. i

T0 all 107mm it may concern:

e Be it known that I, CHARLES T. CUTLIP, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in `Und-Shield Fasteners, Vof which the following is a specification, reference being` had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the use of 'flexible foldable tops for vehicles, particularly of the automobile type commonly styled one-man top, itis desirable that Ysome fastening means be `provided for connecting the forward end of the top to the vehicle body or an accessory thereof. It is the present practice to 'use a pair 'of straps for'this purpose, the straps being connected to the front bow ofthe top and to the automobile body. The f unction lof these straps is to hold the top in position when u p and it is a desideratum to maintain the front bow in a given position, but'straps fail in this respect. If the straps `be too tight the bow is pulled too far forward, and Vthe top is unduly stretched or misshapen. On the other hand, if the straps are too loose they naturally flap and the'top is buckled or creased. In either event the effect is veryundesirable and it is a matter of fact that it requires an expert to properly adjust the straps and top and even he cannot always obtain this result. Then again, in connection with a rigid 0`r flexible 4automobile top numerous cumbersome ldevices have been *resorted to for connecting the forward end of atop to a windshield vor 'other vehicle accessory, 'all of which have been diflicult to operate besides detracting from the general appearances Aof an automobile.

The present invention provides a means of securing a "top toga windshield wherein the disadvantages alluded to above are whollv eliminated, and at lall timesI and uunder all conditions the front bow or Vforward portion of the top is deinitely positioned, rigidly and substantially secured in its relation to a windshield:-V This is accomplished by providing practically invisible hold fast devices consistingof members that are fixed relative to the forward bow of a'top andthe 'upper rail or frame of a windshield, said members automatically interlockingwhen lthe bow of the "top is vcarried. .forward over the 'windshield and correctly positioned. It is practically impossible for the forward end of the top 'to become accidentally displaced, undulystrained by reason of its fastened forward bow, sagged or otherwise distorted,and provision is made whereby the members of the holdfast devices can be expeditiously and easily released 'when itis desired to lower or fold the top. The hold-fast 'devices affect in no wise the function of the top or the windshield. and Vin the general make-up of the devices, the parts are .constructed with a view of reducing the cost of manufacture and at the same time retain the features by which'safety, durability, 'simplicity and ease of fabrication are secured, and with such.

vends in view. vmy 'invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Refereiicev'ill now be had to the drawings, wherein* Figure 1 is an end view of the holdfast devices in connection with a portion of anautomobile top and a portion of a windshield, showing the two connected t0- gether; F ig. 2 4is a side elevation of one 'of the `hold-fast devices showing the top and windshield equipment; F ig. 3 is anjelevation of a windshield member; Fig. 4 is a plan of atop bow member; Fig. is a side elevation y'of Vthe, same, partly broken away and partly in section; Fig. l6 is a cross sectional 'view ofthe top bow member; Fig. 7 isa Vlon,fzitudinafl'sectional vi'ew of a Vportion of a modified form of top bow member, and Figs. Sand 9 illustrate a Aplan and a side elevation l'of 'a modified form Aof hold-fast device. i

'In-describing my invention by Yaid of the 'views above referred to, I desire to point out that I intend the same as merely illustrative of an example whereby mv invention may be applied in practice, and I do not care to confine my invention tothe precise construction, arrangement ofparts or its application as shown. The "following` description is therefore to be broadly construed as including substitute constructions and arrangement of parts which `are the obvious equivalents -of those to 4be `hereinafter referred to.

an example, the upper rail of a windshield autres.

frame and contiguous to "the fend of said `rail 110 are bosses 2 'provided with posts or pins 3. These last mentioned elements may be in-V tegral or suitably attached to the rail, and" the upper ends of the posts or `pins ternunate in slianks 4 having rounded or button heads 5. The heads 5 coperate with the posts or pins 3 in providing annular grooves 6 and each post or pin constitutes a member of a hold-fast device employed for detachably connecting the forward bow 7 of an automobile top 8 to the windshield.

Suitably connected to the inner side ofV v groove undercut to provide overlianging retaining fianges 13. Slidable in the groove 12 of each socket and retained therein by the overhanging flanges 13 is a slide 1 4 provided with an opening 15 adapted to register with'the opening 1l of the socket. The inner endof the slide is bent downwardly to provide a stop 16 adapted to impinge the socket 10 and coperate therewith in limiting the movement of the slide in one direction. The outer end of the slide is bent downwardly to provide a handle or finger`- piece 17 and interposed between said finger piece and the socket 10 is a coiled compression spring 18 which retains the stop 16 normally in engagement with the socket 10 andthe slide 14e in an extended or closed position. The socket 10 has a recess 19 housing convolutions of the compression spring 18 and preventing said spring from becoming accidentally displaced.

`A modification of this construction is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the inner end of a slide 20 has a portion 21 thereof depending to constitute a stop and another portion 22 thereof extending into a recess 23'containingl acoiled compression spring 24. This spring serves the same purpose as the spring 18. Since the slides of the socket members are yieldable in one direction, the socket members can be snapped down over the posts or pins 3,the button heads of said posts or pins causing the slides to recede and the openings 15 thereof to register with the openings 11 of the socket members. Immediately upon the socket members being seated upon the bosses 2 of the windshield equipment, the slides l are released and the wall of each slide opening 15 enters the groove 6 of each post or pin, thereby locking the two equipments together whereby vertical or lateral displacement of the automobile top relative to the windshield is practically impossible. Y

f By pressing upon the finger pieces 17, the

slides 14 are shifted whereby the openings 15 thereof register or aline with the openings' 11` of the socket members. The automobiletopv is then released insomuch that it is held sufficiently taut that impetusV is imparted to theV top to withdraw the socket members off the posts or pins 3. It is then only necessary to push the forwardend of the top rearwardly as is common in connection with the one man top or any ordinary foldable automobile top.

To facilitate a release of the automobile top relative to the posts or pins 3, the socket member shown in Fig. 7 has the vertical opening thereof enlarged to provide a recess 33 and in this recess is placed a coiled compression spring 31 seated upon a washer 35 retained within the recess 33 by an inbent or peened edge 36 of the socketinember."

When the socket member is placed upon the pin or post, the boss 2 engages the washer 35 and places the spring3-l under tension,

said spring being held undertension'ras long Y as the slide ofthe ,socket member engages p.

the pin or post. Immediately upon the slide releasing the pin orA post, the tension'Y of the spring 34 is sufficient toV elevate/the socket member and impartinipetus thereto that completely removes the socket member from the pin or post.A I attach considerable importance to this construction as Vit niateriallyl facilitites the manipulation'of an automobile top, Y and it is apparent-that springs can be readily embodied in the other forms of socket members shown.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the slide 11i constitutes a gripping mem-` ber and in lieu of this slide, the socket 10 can be provided with two resilient gripping l los liold-fast devicesare practically invisible,

yet within easv reach of aVA chauffeur or driver of a vehicle equipped with hold-fast devices in accordance with this invention.

The devices can be finished Vtoha'rmonize with metallic fittings or accessories of an automobile and kwhen made of ystrong and durable metal will. outla'stthe life of at'op or a windshield.

1. A hold-fast device comprising'afpin provided with a groove, a socket adapted to receive the .pin, a slide at an end of said socket adapted 'to'engage in the groove vof said pin, and means in said socket adapted adapted to move said socket relative to said 1o pin when released by the rst mentioned means.

Inl testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES T. CUTLIP. Witnesses KARL H. BUTLER, ANNA M. DoRR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

